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‘Casino’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

January 25, 2022 · Casino (1995) · Crime · Drama · 2:04:56 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

Categories

What's Aged the Worst

Sean FennesseyEvery decision that Ace makes related to Ginger▶ 32:10

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes: Ace explaining how Vegas works (the count room scene), Ichikawa gambling scenes with the whale psychology, Sharon Stone's first scene throwing chips, and Ace spotting card counters▶ 35:54
Sean FennesseyAce spots the card counters - calls it 'one of the single greatest sequences in his entire career'▶ 41:11

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsJames Woods' performance as Jimmy - describes it as the best fictional scumbag he played and discusses Woods' career arc through the 80s and 90s▶ 1:23:53
Chris RyanInitially jokes about the age of the hitman, but ultimately agrees that James Woods aged the best while also crediting Sharon Stone▶ 1:21:17
Sean FennesseyAce's mid-century modern desert house - appreciates the kitschy 70s decor and cool suburban architecture▶ 1:18:36

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsSharon StoneSharon Stone was the right choice over Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Melanie Griffith, and Tracey Lords▶ 1:27:36
Chris RyanScarlett JohanssonSkeptical of Scarlett Johansson as an alternative, saying he's never seen her as unhinged as Ginger requires▶ 1:30:40
Sean FennesseyTraci LordsDefends Tracey Lords as a viable option, noting she can act and has had a 30-year career, and that her life experience would suit the Ginger character▶ 1:28:31

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsL.Q. JonesDiscussed LQ Jones as Pat Webb as an example of 'that guy' actor but noted he never knew his name despite always recognizing him▶ 1:32:04
Chris RyanNick MazzolaNick Mazzola (the blackjack dealer) and John Menko (Nicky Eyes from Goodfellas)▶ 1:33:30
Sean FennesseyL.Q. JonesExplained that LQ Jones is too important/famous to be considered 'that guy' since he appeared in major Peckinpah westerns, but acknowledged the perspective▶ 1:32:11

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsAce's house from the movie was bought by Suge Knight in 1996, located in Vegas where Tupac died shortly after▶ 1:44:09
Bill SimmonsReal-life Lefty Rosenthal moved to California then Florida, worked as nightclub manager, ran online betting site, died in 2008 at age 79▶ 1:44:43

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsRobert De NiroDe Niro - no (despite Heat and Casino within three weeks), believes Raging Bull is likely his apex but it's not rewatchable; Pesci - agrees it's Goodfellas; Kevin Pollack - yes for Casino; 1981 Cadillac Eldorado - yes; various other categories discussed▶ 1:45:28
Chris RyanKevin PollakKevin Pollack - absolutely his apex mountain▶ 1:46:18
Sean FennesseyJoe PesciDe Niro - believes it's Raging Bull; Pesci - definitively says Goodfellas into My Cousin Vinny, agrees this is end of Pesci's leading movie run; Kevin Pollack - agrees it's his apex mountain▶ 1:45:44

Who Won the Movie

Movies Referenced (65)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Goodfellas (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗23Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 4:22
Basic Instinct (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:18
Dead Man Walking (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:07
The Irishman (2019)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Sean Fennessey▶ 17:29
Boogie Nights (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey▶ 6:14
Cape Fear (1991)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 25:50
Jackie Brown (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 18:02
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 23:09
Palm Springs (2020)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:51
Raging Bull (1980)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:45:44
Total Recall (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:56
Toy Story (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 9:11

Directors Referenced (12)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Martin ScorseseIMDb ↗Lb ↗43Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanTaxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets▶ 2:33
Sean PennIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyMystic River, 21 Grams, Dead Man Walking▶ 19:23
Sidney LumetIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan12 Angry Men▶ 1:05:21
Anson JewIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Bill SimmonsWonder Woman▶ 17:10
David FincherIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean FennesseySe7en, Gone Girl, Zodiac▶ 11:42
Mike FiggisIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyLeaving Las Vegas▶ 23:09
Chris NoonanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:03
Michael RadfordIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 23:11
Tony ScottIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsUnstoppable, True Romance▶ 12:58
Brit ManorIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 2:00:25
Clint EastwoodIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsMillion Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 1:32:49
Sam PeckinpahIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 1:32:16

Actors Referenced (80)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Robert De NiroIMDb ↗Lb ↗41Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyCape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 2:33
Joe PesciIMDb ↗Lb ↗32Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyGoodfellas, Raging Bull, The Irishman▶ 2:33
Sharon StoneIMDb ↗Lb ↗29Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanBasic Instinct, Casino, The Quick and the Dead▶ 2:33
Don RicklesIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyCasino, Toy Story▶ 38:31
James WoodsIMDb ↗Lb ↗14Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanHercules, The Virgin Suicides▶ 44:40
Jimmy WoodsIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 5:26
Oscar GoodmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris RyanCasino▶ 10:27
Frank VincentIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris RyanGoodfellas, Casino▶ 12:40
Alan KingIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyCasino, Rush Hour 2▶ 21:47
Jeff BridgesIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris RyanThe Big Lebowski, True Grit▶ 1:22:43
John BarrymoreIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 10:55
KansasIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris RyanPitch Perfect▶ 50:59

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael DinnerIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:46:55
Brian KoppelmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill SimmonsRunaway Jury, Michael Clayton▶ 2:03:30
George LucasIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, American Graffiti▶ 1:25:55
Taylor SheridanIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanHell or High Water, Wind River▶ 1:53:15

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyThe Other Guys▶ 34:21
Sam NaimanIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 53:12